Aqib Javed refrains from taking up head coach role for Pakistan

Following the exit of Gary Kirsten, the door is left ajar for Aaqib Javed to assume the coaching responsibilities of the Pakistan cricket team as a head coach. Aaqib expressed his willingness to operate as a head coach for Pakistan in the white-ball arena recently. The 52-year-old is currently engaged with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a national selector. 

Kirsten handed his resignation on Monday due to growing unease and a difference of opinion between him and the PCB. It has been reported that the World Cup-winning coach spent very little time in Pakistan and had very limited on-ground involvement well below the contractually allowed 30 days of vacation. Now that the board has parted ways with Kirsten, Aaqib now has his ambitions set on securing a significant coaching role in the team

A surprise U-turn from Aaqib Javed  

As per sources, reports are now trickling through which suggests that Aaqib is not really interested in becoming the head coach but wants to mentor the budding players. There is a growing possibility that the national board may recruit him as the Director of High Performance in days to come. Aaqib had been at odds with Misbah-ul-Haq when he served as the selector and coach of the national team across all formats. Aaquib used to be a vocal critic of him and it is understood that it is due to this reason Aaib wants to stay away from the head coach position.

A senior Pakistani journalist named Saleem Khaliq confirmed these claims as he took to his X handle to state the same in Urdu. 

عاقب جاوید کو کوچ بننے میں ولچسپی نہیں ہے، ماضی میں جب مصباح الحق نے سلیکٹر اور کوچ کی دہری ذمہ داری سنبھالی تھی تب عاقب ان کے بڑے ناقدین میں شامل تھے،وہ نئے کھلاڑیوں کی رہنمائی کرنا چاہتے ہیں، پی سی بی آئندہ چند روز میں انھیں ڈائریکٹر ہائی پرفارمنس کی ذمہ داری سونپ سکتا ہے

— Saleem Khaliq (@saleemkhaliq) October 29, 2024

A recent report from PTI suggested that senior selector Aaqib Javed and former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq are under consideration as possible successors to Gary Kirsten for the position of head coach for white-ball formats. According to an insider, Azhar Mahmood is expected to serve as interim head coach but that can change when Aaqib or Saqlain get appointed to the role.

Previously Aaqib successfully coached the Lankan team as a fast bowling coach earlier this year and has served as Lahore Qalandars' head coach in the PSL since 2017, leading them to successive titles in 2022 and 2023.